20 most controverial calls in sports history

March 3, 2013 3:43 PM

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20 of the most controversial calls in sports

There has been a lot of debate over the Seahawks' game-winning touchdown Sept. 24 over the Packers. Most sports pundits agreed that the replacement officials blew the call, when side judge Lance Easley (pictured at center) ruled that Seattle receiver Golden Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings simultaneously caught the ball, awarding Seattle the last-second touchdown. The replay, many people argued, showed something different -- that Jennings intercepted QB Russell Wilson's Hail Mary pass. The NFL later said Tate should have been called for offensive pass interference he shoved Packers safety Sam Shield to the ground before jumping up for the ball.

The football world still hasn't forgotten about that controversial call. Let's take a look at 20 of the worst calls in sports history -- including several involving local teams.

There has been a lot of debate over the Seahawks' game-winning touchdown Sept. 24 over the Packers. Most sports pundits agreed that the replacement officials blew the ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

20 of the most controversial calls in sports There has been a... Photo-4276473.57765 - seattlepi.com

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Sept. 9, 1972 -- Soviets get extra time in Olympics basketball final

In what has become one of the most controversial calls in Olympics history, the Soviet Union got extra playing time as it trailed the United States 49-50 with just seconds to play in the gold-medal game. Confusion during three subsequent inbounds plays added to the controversy, when it looked twice as though the game had ended. But a last-second layup gave the Soviet Union a 51-50 victory and the gold medal, handing the U.S. its first-ever basketball loss at the Olympics.

In an NFC divisional playoff, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to receiver Drew Pearson (pictured in 2001) with just 24 seconds left in the game against Minnesota. But Vikings fans know that controversy erupted over whether Pearson pushed off of Minnesota's Nate Wright, suggesting offensive pass interference during the catch. As Vikings coaches argued the call, Minnesota fans started throwing things onto the field and a glass bottle struck an official in the head, knocking him out and giving him a gash that required stitches. The pass was the first to become known as a ''Hail Mary'' and the bottle incident led to the NFL's banning glass bottles at games.

In the second quarter of the 1979 Rose Bowl Game, USC running back Charles White fumbled the ball as he entered the end zone on a 3-yard running play. The officials ruled it a touchdown even though two refs called the play differently. The Trojans ended up beating Michigan that year 17-10.

With a few seconds left in the third quarter of the 1979 AFC Championship game, from the Pittsburgh 6-yard line, Houston Oilers quarterback threw a touchdown pass to receiver Mike Renfro that he appeared to catch with both feet in the end zone. Even though the replay appeared to confirm it, the officials ruled the pass incomplete and the Oilers had to settle for a field goal. The Steelers ended up winning 27-13.

In the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1985 World Series between St. Louis and Kansas City, the Cardinals one win from the title, Royals' batter Jorge Orta hit a slow roller toward first that first-baseman Jack Clark tossed to pitcher Todd Worrell (pictured) covering first base. Umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe at first, saying he beat the tag, but replays showed him out. Denkinger's call was upheld and the Royals ended up winning that game later in the inning, and then won the World Series in Game 7.

In the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1985 World Series between St. Louis and Kansas City, the Cardinals one win from the title, Royals' batter Jorge Orta hit a ... more

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June 22, 1986 -- Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal

In the quarterfinals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup between Argentina and England, six minutes into the second half, Argentina's Diego Maradona scored a goal that went off his left hand. But the referee didn't see the handball and let the goal stand. After Argentina's 2-1 victory, the score became known as the ''Hand of God'' goal when Maradona himself said he scored it ''a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God,'' according to The Sun.

In the final seconds of this Big Eight showdown, the officials forgot to flip the down marker from second to third down during Colorado's last-minute drive toward the end zone. With the clock ticking away, Buffaloes backup quarterback Charles Johnson spiked the ball on ''third down,'' though it should have been fourth down and a turnover on downs. Officials gave him a fifth down and Johnson kept the ball himself, driving toward the goal line. Though there was further controversy about whether Johnson actually crossed the plane, Colorado was awarded the game-winning touchdown and the Buffaloes beat the Tigers 31-30.

In Game 2 of the 1991 World Series between Atlanta and Minnesota, Braves left fielder Ron Gant hit a single to left field with two outs. When the ball came back into the infield, Twins pitcher Kevin Tapani threw toward first, where Gant was running back to the bag. But as first baseman Ken Hrbek (pictured) caught the ball, he appeared to lift Gant's leg and force him off the bag. Gant was called out and the inning was over, and that call has become known as one of the most controversial in baseball.

In Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals, the New York Knicks trailing the Chicago Bulls 86-85 as final seconds ticked down, New York's Hubert Davis went up for a 23-footer with 2.1 seconds left. Chicago's Scottie Pippen (pictured) contested the jumper -- cleanly, most people say -- but referee Hue Hollins called Pippen for a foul. Davis made both free throws and the Knicks won 87-86, on their way to a loss to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.

In Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Orioles, his team trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, New York's Derek Jeter (pictured) hit a deep fly ball to left field. A 12-year-old fan, Jeff Maier, reached in from the stands and deflected Jeter's ball over the fence. Though spectator interference should have been called, umpire Rich Garcia didn't see it and ruled a home run, tying the game at 4-4. New York's Bernie Williams then hit a walk-off homer in the 11th inning to win the game for the Yankees.

Game 5 of the 1997 National League Championship Series between Atlanta and Florida will be forever remembered for umpire Eric Gregg's suspiciously wide strike zone. The controversy surrounds the calls he gave Marlins pitcher Livan Hernandez, who pitched a complete-game three-hitter as Florida beat Atlanta 2-1. On the final pitch, Gregg rang up Braves first baseman Fred McGriff (pictured) on a pitch that was clearly outside, but was called a strike. The Marlins went on to beat Cleveland in the World Series.

WSU Cougars fans know that there are still two seconds left in the 1998 Rose Bowl. Trailing 21-16 with just seconds left in the game, Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf was leading the Cougars down field and, after the game clock stopped at 2 seconds as the officials moved the first-down chains, attempted to spike the ball at the Michigan 16-yard line to give WSU one last play. Leaf appeared to spike it with 1 second left in the game, but the officials ruled the game was over. Michigan won 21-16 and Cougars fans are still bitter.

Tied 16-16 and headed into overtime on Thanksgiving day, captains for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions headed out to midfield to call the coin flip. Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis was heard calling ''tails'' as the coin was in the air, but referee Phil Lucket ruled Bettis' call as ''heads.'' The coin landed tails up and the Lions won the toss, and eventually won the game 19-16. In the aftermath, audio suggested that someone may have called heads, but Steelers fans believe Bettis said ''tails.'' The incident led to the NFL's having players call the coin flip before the coin is in the air.

In the final minute of this game between the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks, New York's Vinny Testaverde (pictured) attempted a quarterback sneak into the end zone. Officials ruled it a touchdown, but TV replays clearly showed Testaverde never broke the plane. Because the NFL had stopped using replays to check officials' rulings, the touchdown stood and the Jets won 32-31. The touchdown has been cited as a chief reason the NFL reinstated the replay the following season.

In a wild, back-and-forth NFC Wild Card playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers, the 49ers were driving down field with just minutes remaining when QB Steve Young threw to receiver Jerry Rice. Rice clearly fumbled the ball, but he was ruled down on contact and San Francisco kept the drive moving. The 49ers ended up winning the game 30-27 on touchdown pass with 8 seconds left in the game. San Francisco then lost to Atlanta in the next playoff game.

The Dallas Stars won the 1999 Stanley Cup in wild and controversial fashion, on a goal in triple overtime that Buffalo Sabres fans have come to call a ''no goal.'' Dallas' Brett Hull (pictured) was credited with a goal that, detractors say, should not have counted because he kicked the puck with his skate into the crease before shooting on goal That year it was illegal to score a goal if an offensive player's skate entered the crease before the puck did. The NHL removed that rule from the books the following year. Dallas ended up winning the Stanley Cup on that goal, beating Buffalo four games to two.

In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, umpire Tim Tschida called Boston runner Jose Offerman out on a ''phantom tag'' by New York second baseman Chuck Knoblauch (pictured). Knoblauch clearly missed the tag by at least a foot, but got the call and turned an inning-ending double play, cutting short a Red Sox rally. New York ended up winning the game 9-4 and won the series four games to one.

Playing through heavy snowfall in Boston, the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders were battling in the AFC divisional playoff game when football fans were treated to one of the most controversial calls in NFL history. With less than two minutes left in the game, Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson sacked Patriots QB Tom Brady (pictured at left) and forced a fumble. Oakland linebacker Greg Biekert recovered the ball, surely sealing a 13-10 victory for the visitors. But upon video review, the officials ruled that Brady was in the process of tucking the ball when he was hit, after pumping a fake pass, which by rule meant it was an incomplete pass and not a fumble. In the aftermath, the obscure ''tuck rule'' quickly became a household phrase. The Patriots ended up keeping the ball and tying the game, sending it to overtime, where the Patriots eventually won 16-13. New England went on to win the Super Bowl that year.

Seahawks fans remember Super Bowl XL and its questionable officiating all too well. There were three key calls that Seattle fans point to when they talk about the refs blowing the game for the Seahawks. The first came in the first quarter, when receiver Darrell Jackson was flagged for offensive pass interference on a touchdown pass from Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck; the score was nullified. The second came in the fourth quarter, when Seattle tackle Sean Locklear was called for holding Steelers linebacker Clard Haggans, negating a deep completed pass. The third was a disputed call on Hasselbeck when, after he threw an interception to Ike Taylor, he was flagged for an illegal block when making a tackle during Taylor's return. Four years later, referee Bill Leavy admitted that he ''kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game.'' Seattle ended up losing to Pittsburgh 21-10.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga (pictured at left) was just one out shy of completing the 21st perfect game in MLB history. But when the last batter, Cleveland's Jason Donald, tapped an infield grounder to Miguel Cabrera, umpire Jim Joyce (pictured at right) ruled that the throw to first was late. He called Donald safe and ruined Galarraga's perfect game. But on video, Donald was clearly out. Joyce immediately knew he blew the call, and ended up admitting his mistake in a tearful interview after the game. Joyce and Galarraga, who was praised for his sportsmanship, made up and have released a book as co-authors -- and are seen here shaking hands at the 2010 ESPY Awards.